As the holidays are quickly approaching, this is the time to give back to our communities, near and far. Look no further than to the Bronx, where Yara Shea Beauty is located. This small business, created and founded by Nguzo Ogbodo (a fellow New Yorker), is a Black-owned and female-owned company that provides menstrual education to girls in Nigeria. The pure, unrefined shea butter is sourced and produced by women Ghana, West Africa — and is fair trade!
I received the Lavender Beauty Care set and I couldn’t be happier with these gorgeous products.
To start off in the shower, I decide between the Creamy Shea Oat Body wash or the African Black Soap. The Creamy Shea Oat Body wash has a silky texture that is luxurious when lathered up and applied to my skin. I tend to have dryer skin this time of year so the combo of oats, coconut oil, and shea butter all work to keep my skin supple and soft. The lavender scent is calming to my senses — great after a long day of work or play.
If I’m feeling sweaty or needing a deeper cleanse, I reach for the African Black Soap. This charcoal isn’t run-of-the-mill, Yara Shea Beauty makes theirs with charcoal from roasted cocoa pods and plantain skins, which gives the soap a beautiful dark color and deep cleaning. Add some shea butter and coconut oil to bind the soap together and I have my go-to bar soap for everyday use. This African Black Soap is great for acne-prone skin and keeps my skin clear and bright!
Once I’m relaxed and hop out of the shower, I have to moisturize of course! I find comfort in the Whipped Body Butter in the same heavenly lavender scent. The star ingredients consist of rice bran oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter— leaving my skin shining and buttery all night long.
This bundle came with a vibrant handmade Ankara pouch made by women in Nigeria. This high quality pouch has found a home in my backpack to store makeup, hair ties, and tampons.
Speaking of tampons, Yara Shea Beauty and its non-profit Hope and Dreams Initiative (created in 2011) empowers and supports young girls in Nigeria by offering menstrual support and sexual education. Many girls drop out of school due to inaccessible menstrual products and each purchase of Yara products provides a four-year supply of reusable pads to young women in the community, along with menstrual hygiene and reproductive health education. Yara Shea Beauty is the change in the world we need to see, creating a ripple effect that will empower young girls and women to live a life of support and dignity. Yara Shea Beauty is a must-have for any gift this holiday season and beyond.
